Friday, 11 January 2013

Spotlight - Jenny Schwartz

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Hi everyone,

Today we have the
wonderful Jenny Schwartz dropping by for a visit. Jenny writes across romance genres; these include
contemporary, paranormal and the uber-cool Steampunk. I love Steampunk , especially Jenny's Bustlepunk chronicles. If you haven't checked them out, you should... they're great fun!

Hello Jenny and
welcome J

What type of romance do you write?

Sometimes
the honest answer to that feels like “absolutely anything”. I write Steampunk
and paranormal romance and my most recent release is contemporary romance.
Contemporary romance is fun. It’s something that could happen to the person
queuing next to you at the supermarket checkout.

What
comes first, the plot or characters?

Plot and
characters develop together for me. Sometimes one might appear first, but so
closely followed by the other that I can’t separate them. They evolve together
as I mull over ideas.

What made you want to be a writer?

I’ve
always wanted to write. Mum remembers me “writing” before I could read or
write. I’d just sit scrawling wavy lines at a little children’s table. Once I
learned to read and write, I never stopped doing either.

How do you come up with the titles to your books?

With great difficulty! A good editor (and I’ve been blessed with
some of the best) helps enormously. Very occasionally I’m struck with a title
idea at the beginning of the writing process and write the story to match it.

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?

Mistaken
Engagement came out of the sudden realisation that with the new Australian
digital romance publishers, like Escape Publishing, there was an opportunity
for stories that matched Australian experiences – like holidays. I was
immediately inspired to write a story for Australia Day, a story to celebrate
the fun of that summer holiday and the underlying love of family and community.

If you could go anywhere in the world where
would it be?

I’ve visited every state and territory in Australia, except
for Tasmania. So it’s on my list.

Are you a sweet tooth?

Absolutely,
I love chocolate and I have a devastating weakness for cake. This is NOT helped
by all the great bakeries that have sprung up around the neighbourhood. I guess
you could say I believe in supporting local businesses J

Thanks Jenny for stopping by and all the best with 'Mistaken Engagement' J

Nicóle xx

Mistaken
Engagement

Saul
knows he crossed the line when he claimed a surprise engagement with Grace. But
her hysterical denial – and the way she's avoided him ever since – has made
things awkward, but it can all be worked out. The Australia Day long weekend
down at her family’s beach house is the perfect time to show everyone that
they’re friends, with not a broken heart between them. But can a fake
engagement become life-changingly real?

SNIPPET

Grace bounced up
from the sofa. Her hands went to her hips. The old yoga pants she wore had slid
down. She angrily hitched them up. “You arrogant, manipulative … You didn’t
just ask for my schedule, did you? You made sure I had the whole weekend off.”
Infuriatingly, Saul relaxed into a grin, holding his palms up in a gesture of
innocent, misunderstood goodwill.
“Ooh.” She picked up a cushion and threw it at him. She’d spent years proving
that she was herself, and not Stuart Wharton’s stepdaughter. She’d worked for
everything she had. But with Saul throwing his weight around the hospital, they
would all look at her differently.
“It’s not so bad, Grace.” He put the cushion aside and stood. “The family wants
you at the bay, and you look like you need a holiday. Come and celebrate
Australia Day with us. I’ll pick you up at six o’clock tomorrow morning.”
She fumed silently.
“And the two of us will show everyone we’re the best of friends,” he continued
remorselessly. “Pack your bathing suit.”
“I won’t go surfing with you.”
“Then you can sit on the beach and admire my style.” A finger tapped her nose.
She nearly went cross-eyed watching it approach and retreat.
He grinned and let himself out of the house.

Mistaken Engagement is available from Harlequin’s new
Australian digital imprint, Escape Publishing. It’s a short story (10,000 words),
which is an interesting new development.

I hope to
see lots more short stories with the growth of digital publishing.

Jenny Schwartz is a
West Australian author. Her high school yearbook predicted she’d be a writer –
something about always having her nose in a book. When not living up to others’
expectations, she enjoys lazy days in the suburbs and is working on a
collection of life-saving recipes, “Simple Meals for Forgetful Cooks”.

Really enjoyed your latest story. I hope it does well for you. I wish you a happy Australia Day in advance. The very same day is Republic Day in India - the day the Indian nation celebrate becoming a republic with it own constitution. This is quite distinct from Independence Day on 15th August.

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About Me

Hi, I'm Nicole and thanks for dropping by.
I write historical, fantasy and contemporary romances.
I'm a hopeful romantic who is enchanted by love no matter the time period or the realm.
http://nicolehurley-moore.com/